Shitala Satam Vrat on 14th August 2017

Shitala Satam falls in the month of Sravana, on the seventh day of Krishna paksha.

Puja of Shitala mata is the main ritual performed on this and women do this puja after taking bath with cold water. Cold meal cooked on the previous day is eaten by devotees during the day.

Shodashopachar puja is offered by placing the idol of Shitala mata. It is believed that donkey is her vehicle and She holds a broom and kalash in her other hands. It is also believed that diseases like smallpox can get cure easily with her blessings. Shitala mata is also worshiped by women for well-being of their children.

Vrat katha related to Shitala Satam is given in the Bhavishyottar purana. It narrates that there was a king of Hastinapur named Indralumna. Name of his wife was Pramila who had great faith in performing religious ceremonies. Name of his son was Mahadharma and name of daughter was Shubhakaari who got married to prince Gunvan.

After one year of marriage, Gunvaan went to home of his in-laws to fetch his wife. King asked him to stay over because next day they had to perform Shitala mata vrat. Shubhakari with her female friends mounted on a chariot and went to some lake for the puja ceremony of Shitala mata. But in between they lost their way. Then an old woman came and showed them the way. After that the princess took bath in lake and performed puja of Shiatala mata. The old woman was herself Shitala mata and she got very happy from the worship of princess. She asked the princess to state any wish but the princess told that she will ask on any need.

After that princess and her friends went to meet the Brahmin and his wife. There they got to know about the death of Brahmin due to snake bite. Then the princess asked Shitala mata to restore the life of Brahmin. And with the blessings of Shitala mata, Brahmin got alive again.